India’s vibe-coding startup Emergent has entered the AI agent space, similar to OpenCL
Indian startup Emergent, primarily recognized for its vibe-coding platform, has introduced Wingman—a messaging-centric autonomous AI agent. This launch marks the company’s expansion into the burgeoning field of background-operating software designed to execute tasks independently, a category recently popularized by tools such as OpenClaw and Anthropic’s Claude.
Originally gaining traction for its vibe-coding platform—a direct competitor to tools like Cursor and Replit—the Bengaluru-based startup has empowered non-technical users to build full-stack applications using only natural language. With the debut of Wingman, Emergent is evolving from a creation-focused company into an execution-oriented one, positioning its AI agents to manage routine tasks across various digital tools and professional workflows.
“The logical progression for us was to ask if we could help users not only develop software but operate more autonomously within it,” explained Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent. He noted that the goal is to transition from software that merely supports business operations to technology that actively assists in running them.
Emergent reports that its vibe-coding platform has already attracted over 8 million builders to create and deploy software, maintaining a robust base of 1.5 million monthly active users. Since its founding in 2025, the startup has seen rapid investor interest, securing $70 million in January at a $300 million valuation from prominent backers like SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Designed for seamless integration, Wingman operates primarily through messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, where users can assign and track tasks via chat. Behind the scenes, the agent synchronizes across a user’s digital ecosystem—including email, calendars, and enterprise software—to execute routine workflows autonomously. To ensure security and accuracy, the system is programmed to pause and request explicit user approval before performing high-stakes or consequential actions.
The debut of Wingman coincides with a fierce industry-wide race to dominate the autonomous AI agent market. As companies compete to develop tools capable of executing complex tasks on a user’s behalf, projects like OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot and Moltbot) have already captured the attention of early adopters. Meanwhile, tech giants such as Anthropic and Microsoft are aggressively advancing their own agent-based systems to claim a stake in this emerging category.
Emergent is carving out a unique position by embedding Wingman directly into existing messaging ecosystems like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Apple’s iMessage. By utilizing these familiar channels, the startup eliminates the need for users to adapt to a new interface. Furthermore, to mitigate the risks associated with full autonomy, Emergent introduced “trust boundaries”—a safety framework that allows the agent to handle routine chores independently while mandating explicit user consent for high-stakes or sensitive operations.
In an interview with TechCrunch, Mukund Jha explained that the decision to house Wingman within messaging platforms was a response to existing professional habits. “A significant portion of actual work is already conducted via chat, voice, and email—whether it’s making requests, following up, or reaching a decision,” Jha noted. He believes these communication channels will increasingly serve as the primary interface through which we collaborate with AI agents.
Like its competitors, Wingman has its weaknesses. Mukund Jha noted that the agent often falters in “messy edge cases” or when faced with “unclear goals.” He highlighted that in any workflow where a human’s specific judgment is the deciding factor, the system still lacks the consistent performance needed to take over completely.
Emergent is launching Wingman with an initial limited free trial, after which the service will transition to a paid model. Existing Emergent users will have the advantage of seamless access, as they can integrate and manage the agent directly through their current accounts.
